The Monkey Ball series returns to a handheld platform for the first time in over five years.
Since its debut back in 2001, the Super Monkey Ball series has been available on every Nintendo platform from Gamecube to Wii. With that being said, it should have come as no surprise that Sega has announced Super Monkey Ball 3D for Nintendo 3DS.
Super Monkey Ball 3D features the same lovable cast of characters that have been around since the series' inception. The big difference this time is that they are all in 3D, thanks to the visual capabilities of the system.
Super Monkey Ball 3D provides players with three different gameplay modes. One of the modes offers players with traditional Super Monkey Ball puzzles, in which players must navigate AiAi and his friends through dangerous courses, collecting bananas and fighting the clock along the way. All of this is done through the use of the 3DS' Circle Pad or internal gyroscope.
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The game’s “Monkey Fight” mode plays similarly to Super Smash Bros., with players fighting each other in all-out battles. All of the different commands are mapped to the 3DS' buttons. The main objective of the mode is collect bananas that pop up over the stage. Hitting other players will cause them to lose some of their bananas, giving you the opportunity to collect them.
Rounding out the selection of modes is “Monkey Race” in which players race each in carts, similar to those in Mario Kart. Get to the finish line before your opponents and victory will be all but assured.
Both Monkey Race and Monkey Fight are able to be played with up to four other players locally. The game does not feature online multiplayer.
Super Monkey Ball 3D is scheduled for release in Japan on March 3, and in Europe on March 25. The game will also arrive in stores on March 27 alongside the Nintendo 3DS system in North America.